Buyer Beware !! "Titty1" / Anyone for a new crank

Hey guys,

Just finished pulling down my engine from the FX1 after it wouldnt start...

After my original engine blew, I bought another ski with a 'rebuild' done decemeber from a guy on the shore. The 'rebuild' was done by Trademe member Titty1 (from chch).

Never have I seen such a dodgy mechanic. When first changing the engine over I was taking the carb off to swap it for my jetted carb, and found one of the bolts had been stripped but left in there. When removing the other bolts another came out with the thread. So heli-coiled these and carried on. When putting on my flywheel I was surprised to find he had not used a gasket on the flywheel cover (these are $14, real expensive... whats a little water anyway?) so cleaned out the water and bought a gasket.

Now the next problem I have had was due to a stuffed stator. Bad luck I guess? The fact that the crank seal wasnt seated right didn't help. Neither did the fact no sealant had been put on the mating surfaces of the crank case. This equally wasn't as cool as it means on the up stroke after a sub, I have been sucking salt water into my engine, and the crank, rods and bearings are all rusty... I suspect they are most probably 2nd hand too as i've not done that many hours on the engine and they are all nicely worn. The 2nd hand reed valves also don't seat as well as they could (although my few hours could have had some effect on that).

Finally, he had over tightened the bolts on the crankcase, and hardly did the bolts holding the cylinder to the case past fingertight... So I'm guessing he either doesn't own a torque wrench, or he doesn't know what one is...

I don't know the exact agreement between the previous owner of my ski and Titty1, but I don't think he asked Titty to build him a time-bomb, and since the ski wasn't even for sale when I found it, I don't think it was a fix-and-flick deal - either way beware of this guy if you are buying anything off him, or having any work done. He seems to like to cut corners and doesn't really seem to have a lot of knowledge on the subject.

On another note, I am looking at importing some brand new 650 / 701 / 760 cranks from the states, two for myself, and one each for two friends, and was wondering if anyone else needs one / would be interested in having a spare?

Looking at around $750 NZD landed. Will confirm depending on numbers, etc.

That titty1 dude seems to buy heaps of fuked shitta's, pull them apart and sell the bits or builds up ski's out of shit and sells them.

i would be keen for a 951 crank. How much for one of those?

I had some mates down here buy an X2 off of him and it was worked up to the max but the engine was totally rooted! Had salt water right through it, all the bearings were rooted and the electrics were buggered as well!

I wouldnt buy an engine off him thats for sure!

I think most of his stuff is imported form the states

Seadoo will be like $900 - $1000 at a guess.

you can get them rebuilt here for cheaper than that. Maybe thats an option for you guys?

as far as i know , the standard yamaha 701 crank isn't too rebuild friendly as you cant push the lower pins out out of the webs........the wiseco cranks (that these guys are probably buying?) can be fully pressed apart and more easily rebuilt..........so probably cheaper to buy new crank than trying to rebuild the standard yamaha crank.

I am not defending titty 1 but have had no problems buying parts off him. But I carn't comment on motors or whole skis as I haven't brought any off him. He was going to turn my 650 into a 701 for a allright price but maybe I will get some one else to do the work.

Parts are possibly OK because they are just parts and you can't hide too much...

But I would recommend against letting him do a 701 conversion, its probably cheaper coz he is only changing the cylinders and not boring the case... And if he bores the case he probably won't put it back together properly and you will have the same problem I do now.

Wiseco are apparently stronger too, with better bearings.

I have been told in the past the wiseco cranks are pretty average. Talk to mr Parker. P.M. JETWERKS

I have used wiseco, hot rod cranks for years now and love them
i wouldnt bother rebuilding a crank nowadays its to cheap to buy a new crank

I wouldn't buy off that clown either, I bought an SXI from him and it was a piece of shite...

please explain....

Explanation; Kawasaki's are pieces of shit!!

well that is of course a given, just wondering if there was more to it, despite how o/t this is..